Buckle



(No Model.)

T. 0. POTTER.

BUCKLE.

No. 353,810. Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

WITN 56858::

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. POTTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,810, dated December7, 1886.

Application filed February 6, 1886. Serial No. 190,964.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS OTIS POTTER, of Boston,in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to a buckle applicable especially for use on the straps of suspenders, braces, and other like articles, and it comprises various details of construction,whereby the cost of manufacture is cheapened and the efficiency of the buckle increased.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is aplan view of a blank from which the back or body of the buckle is formed. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the blank after it has been submitted to the action of a punch and die to form holes and parts, hereinafter described. Fig. 3 represents in plan the next step in the process of shaping the blank. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blank as finally finished or shaped. Fig. 5 is a section upon the lines a a: of Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are details of the buckle bar and jaw, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the complete buckle.

In the manufacture of the buckle I form a blank, A, from sheet metal substantially of the shape shown in Fig. 1, and this blank provides the back or body a of thebuckle, the sections a, which form the ears, and the part a which forms the hook. It is then submitted to a punch, by which the portion a which forms the hook-guard and the holes I) in the ear-sections a, are formed. The'blank is then submitted to a forming or shaping operation in suitable dies, whereby the sections b of the ears c are struck down, so as to bring the holes b-in line with each other when the ears are bent, as hereinafter-indicated. The edges 1) of the ears are also struck down, for the purpose hereinafter stated. The tongue or hookguard is also shaped and the hook-forming section a bent or curved to form the hook I). The ears are then bent on the dotted lines 3 y, to bring them substantially parallel with each other and at right angle to the body a of the buckle, and their ends are again bent inward (N0 model.)

on the lines 2 2, so that they are parallel with the body and at right angle to the remainder of the cars. This brings the holes b in line with each other, the struck-down or depressed sections I) below the holes, and the struckdown or depressed sections b below the outer or upper surfaces of the ears.

The buckle-jaw is made from a fiat plate, 0, having the serrated edge 0, which is bent at a right angle to the plate, and the ears 0 at each end. This jaw is secured to the pivot-bar d by the ears 0 in a manner to permit the swinging movement of the plate thereon. This pivotbar is made from a flat blank. It has the long slot (1, through which the edge e of the plate 0 extends, the ends 0?, which enter the holes I) of the ears and are turned downward therein to tie the two cars together, and the edges d which rest in the depressed sections 1) of the ears. The jaw-bar is attached to the buckleframe while the ends of the ears are being bent to bring them parallel with the body a.

It will be seen that by this construction the outer surface of the jaw-bar and the jaw itself is upon a line with or below the outer surface of the ears, and that the ears therefore act to protect or shield the joints and edges thereof, and act to prevent the clothes of the wearer from being worn by coming in contact therewith. It will be seen that the blank A is also provided with the sections or extensions e on the hook portion, which are subsequently turned or folded over to produce the rounded edges or finish e to the hook.

It will be seen that the sections I) prevent the jaw-holding bar from turning, and that the sections b act as stops, against which the jawplate comes in contact when the jaw is closed or shut; also, that the ends of the jaw-bar are protected or covered and concealed by the ears.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The buckle having the body a, the cars a, the ends of which are provided with holes b, and are substantially parallel with the body, the depressed sections b b of said ears, the jaw-bar (I, having the ends d which enter said holes, and the jaw c,supported by said bar, all substantially as described.

2. The buckle-bod y having the hook-section other, the jaw-bar (1, having t-helong slot d and the ends d, all substantially as set forth.

THOMAS O. POTTER.

Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DOLAN. 

